Adjustable spring.



No. 759,507. v PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. J. M. ERIGSON, G. R. BERRY & L. W.HOGE.

ADJUSTABLE SPRING. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 29, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Wifgesses k Y Z, lgacg'fori a WM eAlfm-gc ys m: mums PETrIRs c0PHOTOLWWI wAwmr-nm. m (1 UNITED STATES Z Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE..

JOHN MARSHALL ERIOSON, CHARLES ROBERT BERRY, AND LUAOINE WILLIAMS HOGE,OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

ADJUSTABLE SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,507, dated May 10,1904.

Application filed July 29, 1903.

To alZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN MARSHALL ERIC- SON, CHARLEs ROBERT BERRY, andLUAoINn WILLIAMS Hoes, citizens of the United States, residing at SaltLake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented anew and useful Adjustable Spring, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in springs for carriages,wagons, railway-cars, and other vehicles and all other places wheresprings are used, and more espeoially to novel means for strengtheningthe spring and regulating the tension thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, andcificient device of this character by means of which the spring may belengthened or shortened at will and the tension thereof regulated tomeet the varying conditions under which it is used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a double bow-spring, theopposite ends thereof being pivotally connected to a commonadjusting-rod, so that when the rod is lengthened or shortened thespring will expand or contract, as the case may be, and the resiliencythereof increased or diminished accordingly.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, itbeing understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of aspringconstructed in accordance with our invention, showing in dotted linesthe adjusted position of the same. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of thesame, part of the spring being broken away to show the construction ofthe adjusting-rod; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of a portion ofthe adjusting-rod and springs detached.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor- Serial No. 167,447. (Nomodel.)

responding parts in all the figures of the d rawings.

1 designates the spring, which may be of any desired shape orconstruction and made of metal or other suitable material, beingpreferably formed of two independent semi-elliptical or bow-shapedsprings 2 and 3, pivotally 5 5 connected to a centrallongitudinally-disposed adjusting-rod 4, as shown. The adj usting-rod 4:is preferably formed in two sections, the inner threaded ends 5 beingconnected by a turnbuckle 6 and by means of which said rod is lengthenedor shortened to regulate the tension of the springs 2 and 3, as will bemore fully explained hereinafter. The outer threaded ends of the rod 4;are provided with substantially rectangular-shaped heads 7, held inposition thereon by means of jam-nuts 8, each head being provided withoppositely-disposed recesses 9, defining outwardly-extending perforatedears or lugs 10, adapted to receive loops or eyes 11, formed in the endsof the springs 2 and 3, a pin 12, passing through said loops or eyes andthe perforations in the cars, serving to pivotally connect the ends ofthe springs to the adjusting-rod, as shown.

When it is desired to increase the tension of 7 5 the springs 2 and 3,the adjusting-rod is short encd by turning the turnbuckle 6, whichcauses the heads 7 to draw inwardly on the ends of the springs,decreasing the length thereof and causing the springs to eicpandlaterally, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the pivotalconnection between the springs and adjusting-rod allowing lateral playof the springs and preventing undue strain thereon, while regulating thetension thereof. 5 It is obvious by lengthening the adjusting-rod thelength of the spring will also be increased and the tension thereofaccordingly diminished.

From the foregoing description it will be 9 seen that we have providedan exceedingly simple and inexpensive means for regulating the tensionof carriage-springs and the like, the relative disposition of theseveral parts being such as to permit of a double adjustment-namely,through the medium of the turnbuckle and by adjusting the headslongitudinally on the connecting-rod and clamping the same by means ofthe jam-nuts.

It is obvious that the springs 2 and 3 instead of being formed,respectively, of a single piece of metal bent into desired shape may beformed of several superposed plates fastened together in the ordinarymanner, and various other changes may be resorted to within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a bow spring, means for eflecting a positiveadjustment of the length of the spring, and a pivotal connection betweenthe spring and the adjusting means.

2. The combination with a bow-spring, of an adjusting-rod forming arigid connection between the ends of the spring, securing-headslongitudinally adjustable on said rod, a pivotal connection between thespring and the secluring-heads, and means for adjusting the roc 3. Adevice of the class described comprising a spring having its endportions bent inwardly, means for effecting the positive adj ustment ofthe length of the spring, and a pivotal connection between the ends ofthe spring and the adjusting means.

4. A device of the class described comprising a pair of springs havingtheir end portions bent inwardly in approximately parallel relation toeach other, means for effecting the positive adjustment of the length ofthe springs,

and a pivotal connection between the springs and the adjusting means.

5. Adevice of the class described compris ing a pair of springs havingtheir end portions bent inwardly in approximately parallel relation toeach other and provided with terminal eyes or loops, an adjusting-rodformingarigid connection between the ends of said springs, adjustableheads carried by the rod, said heads being provided withoppositely-disposed recesses adapted to pivotally support the terminaleyes or loops, and means for adjusting the rod.

6. A device of the class described comprising a pair of semi-ellipticalor bowed springs having their end portions bent inwardly inapproximately parallel relation to each other, an adjusting rod providedwith terminal threads forming a rigid connection between the ends ofsaid springs, adjustable securingheads engaging the terminal threads ofthe rod, jam-nuts adapted to clamp the heads in the adjusted position, apivotal connection between the ends of the spring and thesecuring-heads, and a turnbuckle for adjusting the rod.

1n testimony that we claim the-foregoing as our own we have heretoaifixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MARSHALL ERICSON. CHARLES ROBERT BERRY. LUAGINE WILLIAMS HOGE.

Witnesses:

TANNER B. LAYMAN, W. R. HUTCHINSON.

